Wednesday will mark the first time since 2005 that Kentucky plays an Ole Miss team coached by someone other than Andy Kennedy.

His resignation early last week — which was intended to remove the uncertainty about his status from the players’ minds — came after Ole Miss won 22 games last season. The Rebels had won that many games in a season only five times previously. Kennedy, the winningest coach in program history, led Ole Miss to three of its six seasons of 22 or more victories.

“People are amazed I’m just not bitter about everything,” Kennedy said Monday. “I’ve been here 12 years. I had one bad season, and I’m out at Ole Miss.

“But I get it. Twelve years is a long time. I had a good run (and) been blessed beyond my imagination. I appreciate it. I want to see the program do well.”

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Kennedy did not need to be persuaded about how there’s a shelf life for any coach no matter how successful. After a period of time, fans want a new toy to play with.

“That’s just how it is,” Kennedy said. “Unless you’re having just crazy success like Cal.”

Actually, UK fans grumbled this winter even though John Calipari had led Kentucky to six Elite Eights, four Final Fours, the 2012 national championship and five Southeastern Conference regular-season championships in his first eight seasons as coach.

Kennedy is one of five SEC coaches to win 20 or more games in nine of his first 10 or 11 seasons. The other four are Joe B. Hall and Tubby Smith of Kentucky, Nolan Richardson (Arkansas) and Billy Donovan (Florida). But Kennedy understands the desire for a fresh face.

Of the Ole Miss struggles this season (12-17 overall, 5-11 in the SEC), Kennedy said, “Let’s be honest. I’ve had enough time to fix it. Let’s let somebody else fix it. You hate to say it’s inevitable, but you understand. I’m at peace with it.”

I’m not used to sitting on my back deck and pontificating life. That’s not what I have a lot of time for.

Andy Kennedy, on why he’s not ready to retire from coaching

Parrish Alford, a longtime sportswriter for the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal summed it up by saying, “He’s a victim of his own success.”

Speculation about the coach’s job security arose last spring when Ole Miss vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics Ross Bjork did not roll over Kennedy’s contract.

Then with the Rebels struggling this season, a conversation with former LSU coach John Brady led Kennedy to announce on Feb. 12 his resignation effective at the end of the season.

“I kind of realized there’s this ominous cloud that seems to be forming over the program,” Kennedy said. “And it’s all based on me and my status. Our team didn’t play very inspired that day (an 82-66 loss at LSU). Maybe this is putting undue stress on everybody.”

Kennedy hoped his resignation announcement would renew his players’ spirits. Instead, Ole Miss lost 75-64 at home to Arkansas. Afterward, Kennedy said, “I’ve never been more disappointed in this profession. Never. . . . I would walk away right now and never to be heard from again on this campus. If that’s what this team needs. . . . But this is beneath the standard that is Ole Miss.”